The defendant recently operated Savannah Metro Gymnastics & Cheerleading, a small gym at Ga. 21 and Goshen Road. His students ranged in age from 5 to 18.

During a detention hearing in U.S. Magistrate's Court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Brennan said agents have uncovered new evidence against McCabe "literally within the last couple of days after indictment.''

The investigation is ongoing and could involve more than the Southern District of Georgia, Brennan said.

Prosecutors argued the defendant posed a danger to the community and a threat to obstruct justice in addition to being a flight risk.

Center, who said he was just appointed Wednesday, argued McCabe was presumed innocent and that his fiancee's parents would finance bond.

U.S. Magistrate Judge G.R. Smith ruled that based on the evidence before him, the government's case was particularly strong.

McCabe "is a menace to little girls and he is a threat to society,'' Smith said.

The defendant's behavior "has been the most disturbing type of conduct going on for years,'' Smith said. "This man is a continuing danger.''

Evidence presented by FBI agent Joshua Hayes revealed agents seized America On Line accounts linked to McCabe and girls ages 11 and 12, in which "conversations of a sexual nature'' were shared.

"Screen names" linked to his accounts included Elite 862, Gym 3106, or NYY4027.

Other evidence showed McCabe sent photographs by e-mail of an adult woman's anatomy to children.

Hayes also testified that as early as July 2003, McCabe and a woman identified as Erin Gallagher in the Harrisburg, Pa., area had a "purely sexual'' relationship.

Gallagher took photos of herself and sent them to McCabe, Hayes said.

During one encounter, Hayes said, Gallagher told him McCabe and a child identified in court only as "Victim 1," then 14, were naked in a car in a darkened parking lot.

The two adults had sex with the child in the car, Hayes reported.

Gallagher has not been charged "at this point,'' and has been offered no promises, Hayes testified.

Hayes also testified McCabe telephoned the woman, asking her to lie for him in the wake of an FBI search here.

Another child, identified in court only as "Victim 2," and a former student of McCabe's, told agents McCabe repeatedly sexually abused her at his home during the summer months between ages 13 and 16, Hayes said.

The woman is now 21, evidence showed.

And agents found six videos attached to e-mails depicting the 11-year-old or Victim 1 either undressing and dressing or reclining on a bed.

On March 27, agents raided a Lisa Street apartment McCabe shared with his fiancee.

McCabe surrendered the next day.

McCabe has been free on a $10,000 bond since March from Effingham County Superior Court on charges of sexual exploitation of a child.